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Highlands Today

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Don't cry for Urban, he's doing just fine

Highlands Today

Published: August 5, 2009

Although little's being said about University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer's new $4 million salary, there's no doubt some people are upset. Considering the financial situation of the state, it's understandable. But also consider how much money he brings into the state. When that's considered, $4 million seems cheap.

The university locked him up with a six-year contract for $4 million a year. He was making $3.25 million.

Whether this is a fair amount is up to every individual to decide, but by Southeastern Conference standards, it's very fair. Alabama coach Nick Saban makes $3.9 million and LSU's coach Les Miles has a clause in his contract that guarantees him $1,000 more than any other coach in the SEC if his team wins the national championship, according to the Associated Press.

Meyer clearly has achieved a lot since he arrived here four years ago. He's won two national championships. With those championships brings all kinds of money to the university for T-shirts and anything Gator related.

The money Meyer makes does not come from university general fund coffers. It's paid through the University Athletic Association, whatever that is.

It's clear that Meyer is probably the best college football coach in the country. Of course it didn't hurt to recruit Tim Tebow, but recruiting is the biggest part of a college coach's duties. He does that amazingly well.

Gator fans shouldn't get too giddy thinking their coach is here for the duration. He might be, but there's a $500,000 buyout clause, and that's nothing to other teams who might come courting. It's hard to think of any college programs more illustrious than Florida's, with a few exceptions. Notre Dame has always been a place he loves, but what's not to like about UF?

So there's no need to raise money to keep Meyer in Florida for now. He's doing just fine. Now if we could get the rest of the college on strong financial ground.

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